Photographic printing mask



March 19.69 s. BECKERMAN 3,

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MASK Filed Sept. 28, 1966.

n+5 T I L. --r 11'T 15" 1-1 1 13 15 Fig. 4

SAUL BECKERMAN INVENTOR.

P44 wd-m ATTORNEY United States Patent Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A photographic mask with only two apertures, adjustable to four diiferent positions, to accomplish eight different exposures with only one mask.

The present invention relates generally to photographic projection printers and more particularly to a photographic printing mask which enables, with the use of a single mask, the printing of eight separate and distinct photographs on a single sheet of sensitized paper, without fogging.

It is an object of the present invention to supply one mask for projection printing of a photograph or photographs in eight different positions. It is a further object of the invention to provide one printing mask which, by being adjusted to a number of positions, will enable the printing by projection of eight images on sensitized paper, without the use of other auxiliary masks. These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be obtained by the device shown by way of illustration in the drawings in which: 1

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the printing mask in a first position on a sheet of photo-sensitive paper;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the printing mask inverted top edge to bottom in a second position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the printing mask in vetted left edge to right edge in a third position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the printing mask inverted bottom edge to top edge in a fourth position; and

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a variant form of printing mask showing the use of enclosed rectangular and vignette sites.

In projection printing, numerous exposures may be made on a single sheet of sensitized paper and will require the use, according to conventional practices, of a separate printing mask having an aperture for each exposure.

The present invention provides a single printing mask with a pair of remotely spaced apertures. By reason of the repositioning of this one printing mask, eight diiferently positioned, separate and distinct projected exposures may be made. This is accomplished by having the printing mask provided with first aperture at one corner-space, and a second aperture on the latitudinal edge adjacent to the diagonally-opposite corner-space. In this maner, with a single printing mask, the projection printer may make eight separate and distinct projection exposures onsensitized paper, moving the same mask three times from its original position. In addition, the printing mask made in accordance with the present invention is provided with a slot defining an exposed area, which constitutes a trimming guide.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the printing mask made in accordance with the present invention comprises a generally rectangular, octoploidic, photo-opaque sheet 11. Octoploidic as used herein is intended to mean a rectangle capable of covering eight equal rectangular spaces on a sheet of photo-sensitive paper, the eight spaces are arranged in two groups of four to a group, on opposite sides of a medial latitudinal line.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a first rectangle 12 is cut out at one corner of the sheet 11, as indicated by the dotted numeral 1. A second rectangle 13 indicated by the dotted numeral 7, and generally the same size as the first rectangle 12, is cut out on the latitudinal edge adjacent to a corner space equal to and diagonally opposite to the first rectangle 12. A rectangular section or slot 14 is also cut from the sheet 11 along the medial, latitudinal line and defines an area which does not conflict with the projection printing exposure areas, but which permits a marginally exposed area that functions as a trimming guide on the sensitized sheet 15. Placing the mask 11 in the first position as shown in FIGURE 1, an exposure is made in the apertures indicated by the numerals 1 and 7 on the sensitized paper 15. The mask 11 is then inverted so as to expose the areas (FIGURE 2) designated by the numerals 3 and 5 on the sensitized paper 15, exposures are then made there. The mask is then inverted sidewise to expose the areas (FIGURE 3) indicated by the numerals 2 and 8 on the paper 15. Then the mask is inverted on its upper edge to expose the areas (FIG- URE 4) indicated by the numerals 6 and 4 on the paper 15. In this manner, the one mask 11 has accomplished the exposure of all eight rectangles and the slot 14 has permitted exposure of an image which serves as a trimming guide for each of the eight rectangles. It will be seen that a single printing mask accomplishes the purpose of eight separate printing masks that would ordinarily be required if a conventional printing mask with a single aper ture were used.

FIGURE 5 shows variant forms of printing masks which is a sheet 16 having oval apertures 17, to produce a vignette print, for the sheet 16 does not have cutout apertures 17 extended to the edge as is the case in FIGURES 1-4. Likewise, rectangular apertures 18 shown by doted lines can be supplied instead of the oval apertures 18. These rectangular apertures 18 are also set in from the edges of the sheet 11 and produce prints with borders.

The foregoing description is intended to be merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention for many changes may be made in the construction, selection and arrangement of the parts, all within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. A photographic printing mask comprising:

(a) a photo-opaque, generally rectangular sheet having longitudinal and latitudinal edges, said sheet defining an octoploidic rectangle,

(b) a first aperture defined by a corner aperture on one longitudinal edge of the sheet,

(c) a second aperture on the opposite longitudinal edge, the second aperture being adjacent to a corner space which is diagonally opposite to the corner aperture,

(d) the first aperture having two adjacent edges coincident with the edge of the mask, and the second 3 4 aperture having one edge coincident with the edge of 3,230,823 1/ 1966 Krassopoulos 95-79 the mask. 3,280,694 10/1966 Buechner 88*24 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSI-1BR, Primary Examiner.

C. B. FUNK, Assistant Examiner,

1,315,732 9/1919 McIntire 95-49 5 2,187,381 1/1940 Lane 95-79 2,342,525 2/1944 Berry 9s 79 2,972,931 2/1961 Roob 9579 9536; 355-78 

